William Lindstedt

What counties do you represent? If this is a statewide office, please put statewide.

All of the City and County of Broomfield and NW Adams County

Have you or someone you loved ever experienced a mental health and/or substance use condition?

Yes

Question #1: Colorado, like the rest of the nation, is facing a youth mental health crisis. Do you support school policies and funding that increase the availability of mental health services and supports in schools and early childhood settings?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #1?

Question #2: Do you believe mental health and substance use are serious issues your constituents are experiencing that deserve legislative attention and action? Please explain.

Yes, my family like countless others has been seriously impacted by substance abuse. It’s a serious problem that requires legislative solutions.

Question #3: Extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flag laws, allow law enforcement to temporarily remove weapons from individuals at significant risk to themselves or others. Colorado has a red flag law. Do you support extreme risk protection orders?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #3?

Colorado’s Red Flag Law is just common sense. I fully support it.

Question #4: Overdose deaths are at an all-time high nationally and in Colorado. Many believe increasing criminal penalties for people who use drugs is the answer. Do you support increased criminal penalties for people who use drugs? *
(Please note that we are asking about personal use, not distribution)*

Would you like to explain your response to question #4?

Question # 5: As a follow up question, did you support legislation in the 2022 session that drastically increased the criminal penalty for possession of any substance over 1g if that substance contains any amount of fentanyl?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #5?

This was the most difficult bill of the 2022 session. Generally, I do not think that criminalization is effective in addressing substance abuse issues. That legislation also included significant funding for harm reduction. Fentanyl is a difficult substance to address and I would like to work with stakeholders on these issues next year.

Question #6: Do you believe the State should invest more funding for mental health and substance use? If yes, please explain where you would want additional funding to be directed. If no, please explain why.

Yes, I have fought specifically for funding specifically for substance use disorder at the local level. I also sponsor the overdose awareness proclamation each year. Having multiple family members impacted by addiction, I care deeply about this issue.

Question #7: People needing care, supports, and services for their mental health and substance use often experience discrimination as a result of their health condition. Would you support legislation that would protect people needing care, supports, and services for their mental health and substance use conditions from discriminatory practices?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #7?

It’s hard to get clean if you don’t have housing and other help.

Question #8: For too long the state’s criminal justice system has acted as a substitute for a comprehensive mental health care system. Would you support policies that would disentangle mental health from the criminal justice system and promote the expansion of programs like Denver’s STAR program?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #8?

Broomfield has one of the first co-responder programs in the state. I championed finding sustainable funding for it because police shouldn’t be our mental health professionals for people in crisis.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I look forward to working with Mental Health Colorado on these issues next year. Thank you for your continued advocacy.